Phoenix Suns: Analyzing Ricky Rubio’s potential impact
By Marc C
Free agent Ricky Rubio signed a deal with the Phoenix Suns to become their starting point guard. Rubio brings a much needed veteran presence to the Suns.
On July 8, free agent Ricky Rubio signed a deal with the Phoenix Suns to become their new starting point guard. Rubio joins a solid core that includes Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker.
Rubio brings a much needed veteran presence to the team as he is the second-oldest player on the team at 28 years old. But aside from veteran leadership, Rubio brings a lot more to the table that will be able to develop the skills of Booker and Ayton even more.
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Playmaking ability
According to Basketball Reference, Ricky Rubio averages 7.7 assists for his career, while averaging between eight and nine during his last few years in Minnesota. One thing Rubio knows how to do is pass the ball and set up his teammates.
This will be crucial for a player like Ayton. Booker knows how to get his own offense, but Ayton is a center who may need a little more help.
With Rubio’s ability to break down the offense, expect Ayton to get more looks and his numbers to go up in his second year. Rubio can help Booker as well as he can set him up to average even more points than last year, if that’s possible.
The Suns haven’t had a playmaker of Rubio’s caliber since the days of Steve Nash and with the pace of the NBA higher than it was then, it can be a very entertaining season for them.
The fact that only five players scored more than Devin Booker last season is a crazy accomplishment alone for a 22-year-old, but with the addition of Rubio, Booker’s numbers may stay the same, but life will be much easier for him.
Rubio can take the weight of having to carry the offense off his shoulders, and Booker can focus more on the defensive end.
Playoff experience
Now Rubio may only have 11 games of playoff experience, but that is a lot more than most of the roster, including Booker and Ayton, who have never been to the playoffs.
Rubio helped the Utah Jazz knock off an impressive team in the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 NBA Playoffs and the Phoenix Suns could use that experience.
The Suns haven’t been to the playoffs since the Steve Nash era in 2010, but with the acquisition of Ricky Rubio and the expected continued development of Ayton and Booker, the Suns have a legitimate shot to sneak in the playoffs this season.
Are the Suns contenders with the signing of Rubio? Of course not. But can they have a very positive season and sneak into the playoffs? It’s very possible.
Rubio, draft pick Cameron Johnson and Dario Saric — acquired in a trade from Minnesota — bring a whole new element to the Phoenix Suns, and I believe each player will have a positive impact on Booker and Ayton, but none more than Ricky Rubio.
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Rubio may not b a grand slam signing, but he is a great piece that can propel the Suns into their first playoff appearance in the last 10 years.